title: An essential DnaB helicase of Bacillus anthracis: identification, characterization, and mechanism of action.
abstract: We have described a novel essential replicative DNA helicase from Bacillus anthracis, the identification of its gene, and the elucidation of its enzymatic characteristics. Anthrax DnaB helicase (DnaB(BA)) is a 453-amino-acid, 50-kDa polypeptide with ATPase and DNA helicase activities. DnaB(BA) displayed distinct enzymatic and kinetic properties. DnaB(BA) has low single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-dependent ATPase activity but possesses a strong 5'-->3' DNA helicase activity. The stimulation of ATPase activity appeared to be a function of the length of the ssDNA template rather than of ssDNA binding alone. The highest specific activity was observed with M13mp19 ssDNA. The results presented here indicated that the ATPase activity of DnaB(BA) was coupled to its migration on an ssDNA template rather than to DNA binding alone. It did not require nucleotide to bind ssDNA. DnaB(BA) demonstrated a strong DNA helicase activity that required ATP or dATP. Therefore, DnaB(BA) has an attenuated ATPase activity and a highly active DNA helicase activity. Based on the ratio of DNA helicase and ATPase activities, DnaB(BA) is highly efficient in DNA unwinding and its coupling to ATP consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, UMDNJ-SOM, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ 08084, USA.
authors.forename: Esther E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Marjorie H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Donald T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Moir
authors.forename: Subhasis B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000235:genetics; D053488:DnaB Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005838:Genotype; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D053488:DnaB Helicases